Former Arsenal star hopes Tottenham can qualify for the Champions League

Jens Lehmann joined Arsenal in 2003 from Borussia Dortmund

FORMER Arsenal star Jens Lehmann believes Tottenham can qualify for the Champions League … and hopes they do!

 

The Gunners travel to White Hart Lane on Wednesday night (7.45pm) in their third round Capital One Cup tie.

And the German goalkeeper has been reminiscing about his time at Arsenal and the significance of the rivalry between the tow North London clubs.

"The game between Arsenal and Tottenham is the most exciting derby in London because the history is quite long," he told Omnisport.

 

"It is different now with Chelsea, which came in just 10 years ago when Roman Abramovich took over.

"With Arsenal and Tottenham there is a geographical proximity and there is the rivalry just out of historic clashes which have taken place."

Lehmann spent five years with the Gunners and never once finished on the losing side against Tottenham in eight appearances. 

Tottenham's only European outing in the Champions League came in 2010-11 where upon they reached the quarter-finals with Real Madrid beating them 5-0 on aggregate.

 

But Lehmann hopes Tottenham can qualify again this season. "I think Tottenham is a great club – it is traditional, historic," said the 45-year-old. "But it was always missing the last bit to break into the dominance of the top four clubs. 

"They are always trying every year and I would like them to qualify for the Champions League. Why should Manchester City or whoever else always qualify for the Champions League?

"Of course I wish it more to Arsenal [that qualifies] but next year I could see a game between Arsenal and Tottenham in a Champions League semi-final or quarter-final. Why not? It would be great."